West Liberty History 1838-1938

Source: One Hundred Years of History
* Commemorating a Century of Progress in the West Liberty Community * WEST LIBERTY, IOWA
CONRAD HORMEL
(1837-1915)

Conrad Hormel was born in Roth, Germany, April 25, 1837. At the age of seventeen he came to the United States in order to avoid service in the German army, just as did many other young Germans at that time. His first few years in Iowa were spent at Iowa City, where he was in the blacksmithing business with a brother, Eckert Hormel. On May 10, 1863, he married Emma Kemble, a resident of that city, and to them were born six children: Will C., Edward H., Mary, Samuel W., and Ella, deceased. One child died in infancy.

Here, he was engaged in the blacksmithing business with a brother, Balser, and their shop was first located in what is now the park at the Rock Island depot, and the home was on the same property. Later in the sixties, Balser Hormel built two brick buildings on Third street, and the business was moved there. These buildings are now the Liberty Shoe Store and Jumbo's PLace, and were purchased from Balser by Peter Polders, father of Henry Polders, who is the present owner.

About 1871, the parternership was dissolved, and Conrad Hormel moved to a farm southwest of town, which he had purchased from Thomas W. Clark, and which is now owned by his three grandchildren, Robert, Ethel, and Hazel Gregg, children of his daughter, Ella. He continued in the blacksmithing business, on the farm where he did work for people who came from many miles. After his death, May 10, 1915, this shop was moved to the Sam Hormel farm, where it now stands.

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